Cemetery District to Consider County’s Offer of Help
The Palo Verde Cemetery District will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 22, to consider an offer by the County of Riverside to provide financial and other support to the fiscally-strapped district.
“It’s up to the District and the residents of the Palo Verde Valley whether or not they want to accept this help,” said 4th District Supervisor Roy Wilson. “Although the Board of Supervisors would become the formal Board of Trustees for the District, the current local Board would be retained as an advisory panel.
“It would be very much the same cemetery as it’s always been, just in a little better shape because the County is lending a helping hand,” Supervisor Wilson said. “I can’t overemphasize the importance of the continued interest by the greater Blythe community, especially the wonderful volunteers who have helped out during the District’s tough times.”
A clean sweep of the old Board of Trustees was accomplished in September 2008, as Supervisor Wilson placed Doris Morgan, Max Schoenrock and Beatrice “Quitty” Piñon on the board to turn the troubled district around. Max was later replaced by Richard Lee Phipps.
“Although Doris, Max, Quitty and Richard have been helped by a small army of dedicated volunteers, we decided the County should also volunteer, to help get the District back on its feet,” the Supervisor said. “Burial rights and ‘pre-needs’ arrangements will remain the same. We’re not here to ‘take over’ or to change things . . . except in the most helpful and positive way.”
The special meeting to consider the County’s help will be held June 22 at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall in the community room. The public is invited, and County officials will be on hand to answer any questions the Board of Trustees or the public have.